Connecter for chains



1932- J. R. REYBURN I 1,875,262

CONNECTER FOR CHAINS Filed Dec. 7, 1931 4 INVENTOR.

2 v TVTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1932 JOHN n. n YBuRN, F FAIRFIELD,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CHAIN COM- PANY, INQ, A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK comvncrnn FOR CHAINS Application filed December 7, 1931.

This invention relates to chain-connectors and is of particular utilitywhen embodied in connecters for the side chains of anti-skid tirechains, although the connecter is capable of 1 more general use.

' An object of the invention is to provide .a connecter of sturdy andinexpensive constructionwhich has but few parts and is not liable toimpairmentby rough usage. Another object is to provide a connecter whichcan be readily manipulated and which will maintain; its connectionfirmly 'both when the chain parts connected by it are un-' der tension,and also when the chain is slack. i The above and other features .of theinvention are illustrated and described fully in the accompanyingdrawing and specification and are pointed out in the claims. In thedrawing 7 F ig. l'is aview in perspective of a connecter in whichcertain of the features of the invention are embodied. V

Fig. 2 shows the connecter of Fig. 1 w th its parts in folded position,assembled w1th the terminal links of a chain.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section on'the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

r Fig. 4% is a similar view on the line 4-t of Fig. 2.

v V Fig. 5 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank used in forming hecasing member of the 0on necter shown in the preceding figures.

Fig. 6 isa planview of a modified form of connecter embodying theinvention, shown as assembled with the terminal links of a chain. I

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of the connecter shown in Fig. 6 withparts broken away to reveal interior structure.

' Fig. 8 is a View in vertical section on the line 8-8 of F ig'. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the sheet metal blank used in forming thecasing-member of the connecter shown in Figs. 68 inclusive.

In the now-preferred embodiment of the invention selected forillustration and shown in Figs 1-5, inclusive, the/part designatedgenerally by the'reference character his the casing member of aeconnecter designed particularly for usein connecting together SerialNo. 579,360.

the terminal links of such a chain as one of the side-chains of ananti-skid tire chain for vehicle wheels.

In pursuance of the invention, this casing member may be convenientlyformed from such a blank of sheet metal as that illustrated in Fig. 5',which, in accordance with the invention, is bent up to form a casing ofU- shape in cross section, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The side wallsof the casingare formed with open notches 12, which are in alignmenttransversely of the casing and are adapted to receive a terminal link ofa chain as indicated by the reference character 13 in Fig. 2. p r

In further pursuance of the invention the casing is also formed with anotch or slot extending into the walls from the bottom thereof andpreferably having the arcuate form shown at let in Fig. 2. This slot isadapted to receive another terminal link of a chain as indicated at 15in Fig. 2. i

In accordance with anotherfeature of the invention the connecter isprovided with a lever blade 16 which is preferably connected with thecasing by a pivot 17 extending through the portions 18 at the extremityof the casing nearest the notches 12.

The blank shown in Fig. 5 is provided with suitable holes 19 to receivethe rivet 17 The lever 16 is of suitable length to eX- tend at 20 beyondthe slotted forward end of the casing and preferably has a projection 21intermediate its ends and serving to guide the lever when the latter isswinging downward into and between the walls 22 of the casing, which arepreferably somewhat flared along their free margins to aid the entranceof the projection 21 and of the lever into the casing when swung overinto the position shown in Fig. 2.

The free forward end of the lever may advantageously be provided with anopening 23 to facilitate engagement thereof by the fingers of theoperator or by insertion of a tool when it is desired to swing the leverbackward out of folded position into the position shown in Fig. 1.

ably be passed along 2-1, so that upon swinging the lever over When thelever is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the terminal link 13 of achain may be readily applied thereto, and will preferbeyond theprojection into thefolded position shown in Fig.2, the link will beproperly aligned-and carried down into the notches 12, where it willbeheld as long as the lever occupies the folded position. v

As a suitable form of device toaid in main- :taining the lever in saidfolded position, 1

have shown at 24 a spring having at one end fit hook 25 adapted to entera hole 26 provided for that purpose in the bottom walltr the casing, thehook embracing the bottom "wall 27 adjacent thereto; v x The spring isof such shape that when thus heldin-place its free end 28 is extendedupwardly away from the bottom wall into position for engagement with aheel or cam 29 with which'the lever is provided below the when pivot 17,and 7 the lever is in its closed position the. upwardly extending springportion 28 acts upon thelower surface 30 of the heel" to preventaccidental. 'backward swingingmovementof the lever, so that by thisconstruction the lever is maintainedin its closed position regardless of"any tension Whichmay ,be'exerted upon the link mem-' bers 13 and 15. IThe arcuate form of the slot l4isdesigned to aid in maintaining the link15 in its properrelativeposition. Es-

cape of the link '15 is prevented by the portion 24 of the springextendingacross the mouth ofthe slot 14. c v V Theheel portion 29 of theleveripreferably extends slightly beyond the adjacent portions of theprojections 18.

In anow-preferred; embodiment of the invention which is illustrated inFigs. 6-9, in-

elusive, the reference character 31 designates a casing member which isdesirably formed by bending up a blank of sheet metal of approximatelythe original shape shown in Fig. 9,. to constitute a. casing'having theu shape in cross sectionshown inFigs. 6, 7, and 8.'

" The casing is provided-0n its open side with a notch 32 formedb'y-aligned notches made. in each of-the side walls 33111831 one endthereof, leaving extremities 34 which are piercedfat35toreceive a rivet36 which serves asapivot'tor a lever blade 37 'The latterjis adapted toreceive a terminal link 38 of a chain, such as one side chain of a tirechain, andyacts, when swung over, to

draw the link down into a recess 39 (:seeFig.

i V 7) leftbetween the lever 'and'the bottoms'of the notches 32, thusretaining the link in: the

notches until' the lever is swung backto per- The" lever 37 isofsuitable length .tend'afshort distance beyond the other end of thecasing, in the walls of which are mit'removalof the link.

is provided is tapered and extends, whenthe leve'r'is in the foldedposition shown in" Fig. "7, down wardly and rearwardly formed alignedbodyslots 40, elongated as shown to permit a limited slidingmovementtherein of a bolt or rivet 41 which serves for the attachment to. thecasing of another link 42 which may be the terminal link at the otherend of the side chainthat embodies thelink 38,-, the rest of the chainnot being shown, as it may be a conventional side chain, orany form ofchain suitable to be connected by the connecter disclosed... v v

Inthe instanceillustrated, the links are 7 of conventional form, and thelink 42 has aligned eyes 43 embracing the casing and permanentlyconnected therewith by the rivet 41, although such a permanentattachment is not essential.

The free end ofthe lever 37, in pursin ance of a preferred feature ofthe invention, itha hook 44, the nose ofwhich beneath the slots 40, i

soth'at the j aw thus formed has af'recessed portion 45 adapted to'receive the rivet -41', c0-operating therewith toholdthelever 3'? infolded position whenitension is exerted on the sidechain, asfor'ex'ample whenin use upon a tire.

F In the preferredifornii".shown, the "eonnecter is provided witha'spring46, having one end passed through "a; bottom opening 47 formedin the'c'asing member, the spring being bent around the adjacent wall348of the opening, such form that 'itsfree portion 49 is urged 'yieldinglyupward against a heel or cam 50, with which the lever blade37 ispreferably and the spring being to I provided at a region below thepivot 36, the" heel" preferably extending slightly beyond the end of the.casing,as shown in Fig. '7,"to

increase the tilting action of the spring upon the lever. c i 1 1 .Bythis construction, the spring tends to urge the lever 37 toward itsinnermost position, when folded, regardless of any. tension whichmaybeexerted on 'the side chain" links 38 and42, so that when the chain isslack, f the jfolded position, of the c'onn'ecter is maintainedplacement of -the link 38. i f V V For the purpose of facilitating themanipulation of the leverblade; the latter is preferably. providedattitsfree 'end with an aperpreventing 'accidental disture 51, to permitengagement by the fingers V of the ;operator or theinsertio'n-of a tool,"1

when'it is desired tounfol'd the leverfand release the-Echainlink 38,forremoval of the tire-chain from thetire. When so unfolded by swingi-tack the lev r; the oint at the heel swings under the pivot point,being still engagedby the spring, which' then tends to throwfthe leveropen, inposition for I ready application thereto jofthe link 38 whenthetire-chain is to be installed upon a tire "If desired, one orfmores'mall apertures may be provided in the bottom of the casing, such asthat shown at 52, serving to vent any particles of dirt or otherextraneous substance, which might otherwise accumulate between thespring and casing, interfering with proper action of the spring.

From the above description it will be evident that each form of theconnector above described comprises only three essential op-,

1 of its walls near one end, to receive a chain link or the like, andaligned slots formed in said walls near the other end, to receiveanother chain link, the bottom of said casing having an aperture toreceive a spring; a lever blade pivotally mounted between said walls atthe end adjacent to said notches, said blade being adapted to close saidnotches when folded, into said casing, leaving a recess open at thebottom of said notches to receive said first mentioned chain linkremovably, said lever blade also having a heel portion extendingdownwardly below its pivot; and a spring extending near one end throughsaid bottom aperture of said casing member and supported firmly by thewall of said aperture, said spring having a portion pressing yieldinglyinward against said heel and tendingdngrmally to hold said blade closedwhen 2. A connecter as in claim 1, said spring.

to close said slots, to retain in place the link lying in said slots.

5. A connecter, as in claim 1, and further characterized by having anopening in its bottom wall, below said spring, to vent particles of dirtor other extraneous substances.

6. A connecter of the class described, comprising a member formed ofsheet metal bent to form a casing of U-shaped cross section with alignednotches formed in the free edges of its walls near one end, to receive achain link or the like, and closed aligned body slots formed in saidwalls near the other end, to receive part of another link, the bottom ofsaid casing having an aperture to receive a spring; and a lever bladepivotally mounted between said walls at the end adjacent to saidnotches, and of sufficient length to extend beyond said slots at theother end of the casing when folded into said casing, the inner side ofsaid lever blade being shaped to form a hook at its free end with a hookpoint extending rearwardly from a region adjacent to the forward ends ofsaid slots when the lever blade occupies its folded position, to aregion below the lower margins of said slots, said lever blade having aheel portion bevelled clown- Wardly and outwardly at a region below itspivot, and said blade being adapted to close said notches when folded,leaving the bottom of said notches open to receive said first mentionedchain link removably, and said body slots being of suitable length toreceive, transversely of said casing, part of said second mentionedchain link, to permit rearward sliding movement of said link part toallow folding of said lever blade, and to permit forward slidingmovement of said link part into the jaw of said hook, to hold said bladein closed position when said chain links are under tension in oppositedirections, and a spring extending near one end through said bottomaperture of said casing member and secured to the wall of said aperturefirmly, said spring having a portion pressing yieldingly inward againstsaid heel and tending normally to hold said blade closed when folded.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this

